passenger rail update - commonwealth transportation board (ctb)

Commonwealth Transportation Board 1www.drpt.virginia.gov

Passenger Rail Update

Kevin PageChief of Rail Transportation

April 16, 2008

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Commonwealth Transportation Board 2

Existing Amtrak System

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Existing Amtrak Routes: Eastern U.S.Passenger Rail Stations & Routes in Virginia

8 Service RoutesAuto TrainCardinalCarolinianCrescentPalmettoRegional(Newport News, VA)

Silver MeteorSilver Star

21 Amtrak StationsAlexandria AshlandCharlottesvilleClifton ForgeCulpeperDanvilleSpringfieldFredericksburgLorton(Auto Train)LynchburgManassasNewport NewsNorfolk (Bus)PetersburgQuanticoRichmond(Staples Mill Road)Richmond(Main Street)StauntonVA Beach (Bus)WilliamsburgWoodbridge

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Existing Amtrak Routes: VirginiaAuto Train Route: Lorton, VA to Sanford, FL

Span of Service● Daily service in each direction● Depart/Arrive 4:00 PM / 9:30 AM● No Business Class Available

Route Information● Annual Ridership (2007-365 days)

Virginia = 108,911 (299 riders/day)Outside Virginia = 108,911 (299 riders/day)TOTAL = 217,822 (598 riders/day)

● On Time PerformanceQ1-2008 = 55%

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Existing Amtrak Routes: VirginiaCardinal Route: Chicago to New York City

Span of Service● Service three times per week (Wed/Fri/Sun)● Depart/Arrive 11:30 AM / 5:30 PM● No Business Class Available

Route InformationAnnual Ridership (2007 – 156 days)



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Existing Amtrak Routes: VirginiaCarolinian Route: Charlotte, NC to New York City

Span of Service● Daily service● Depart/Arrive 11:00 AM / 4:30 PM● Business Class Available

Route Information● Annual Ridership (2007 – 365 days)

Virginia = 33,221 (91 riders/day) Outside Virginia = 222,992 (611 riders/day)TOTAL = 256,212 (702 riders/day)


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Existing Amtrak Routes: VirginiaCrescent Route: New Orleans to New York City

Span of Service● Daily service● Depart/Arrive 7:00 PM / 10:00 AM● No Business Class Available




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Existing Amtrak Routes: VirginiaPalmetto Route: Savannah to New York City


Route InformationAnnual Ridership (2007 – 365 days)



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Existing Amtrak Routes: VirginiaRegional Route: Newport News, VA to Boston



Virginia = 224,760 (616 riders/day) Outside Virginia = 176,750 (484 riders/day)TOTAL = 401,510 (1,100 riders/day)


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Existing Amtrak Routes: VirginiaSilver Meteor Route: Miami to New York City

Span of Service● Daily service● Depart/Arrive 8:00 PM / 7:00 AM● No Business Class Available




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Existing Amtrak Routes: VirginiaSilver Star Route: Miami/Tampa to New York City

Span of Service● Daily service● Depart/Arrive 3:30 PM / 2:40 PM● No Business Class Available




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VRE OperationsCommuter rail designed to take cars off the roadVRE Operations (5 days/week - 250 days/year)Operating Span 5:05 a.m. to 8:10 p.m. – 14 trains/day on Fredericksburg Line– 16 trains/day on NS Manassas Line – use CSX

Alexandria to Union StationRidership– Ridership: 13,540 Total/Day (2007)

7,170 Fredericksburg Line/Day6,370 Manassas Line/Day

Reliability– System On-time performance

• CY2007 = 88.37%• CY2006 = 81.52%

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Amtrak’s Short Term Action Plan Report

December 2007 – Amtrak delivered “Advancing Passenger Rail in the Commonwealth of Virginia Short-Term Action Plan” Report– Reviewed short term intercity passenger rail

opportunities in Commonwealth– Identified I-95 and I-66/Route 29 transportation

corridorsfor enhanced intercity passenger service

– Provided refined ridership, cost, and subsidy estimates needed to enhance service in the Lynchburg to Washington, DC and Newport News to Washington, DC corridors.

– Both proposals would include service to New York City.

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Amtrak Short Term ProposalNewport News to Washington, DC

Highest potential rail ridership corridorAdd a new train that would depart Newport News at 6:45 a.m. and depart Washington, DC at 4:00 p.m. Operating weekdays (M-F), with minor departure time changes on Saturdays and Sundays.Business class train serviceEstimated new annual ridership: 50,500 (139 riders/day)Approximate travel time = 4.5 hours each directionEstimated capital cost– Refurbished Amtrak trainset required– Host railroad improvements could be significant

Required operating subsidy = $1.7 million/year

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Amtrak Short Term Proposal Lynchburg to Washington, DC

Add a new train that would depart Lynchburg at 5:00 a.m. and depart Washington, DC at 5:00 p.m. Operating weekdays (M-F), with minor departure time changes on Saturdays and Sundays.Business class train serviceEstimated initial new annual ridership: 33,100 (91 /day)Approximate travel time = 3.5 hours each directionEstimated capital cost– Existing Amtrak trainset to be used (minor cost)– Host railroad improvements would be minor

Required operating subsidy = $1.9 million/year

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Key ChallengesReliability and Scheduling

Primary focus must be on improving reliability – Set goal of 95% level of on-time performance – Amtrak to work with VA to develop a Performance

Implementation Plan Amtrak service on-time performance in Virginia ranges from 18% to 68% with an overall average of 43% in 2007. VRE on-time performance in the I-95 corridor has improved dramatically from 75.3% in 2006 to 85.5% in 2007. Amtrak service is not designed for Virginia’s commuter needs. Most trains do not operate during peak work time travel periods.

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Rail Funding to DateThe Commonwealth through the mass transit program has invested $84 million in VRE in the past 6-years (FY2002-FY2007) for capital improvements and operationRail Enhancement Fund total project investments FY2006-2014 - $396.4 Million– Freight Rail Improvements $154.8 Million– Passenger Rail Improvements $72.6 Million – FY2009 Rail Enhancement Program reserves

$169 Million for state rail projects • The Crescent Corridor alone totals more than $800 Million

VTA 2000: $81.6 Million designated for rail improvements– Eastern Shore Railroad: $6.7 Million– Passenger Rail Improvements: $74.9 Million

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Statewide Rail PlanFunding

Infrastructure needs will exceed available state funds

Private, state, local and federal investment are key components for passenger and freight rail improvements

Passenger rail requires a subsidy– Example: Ridership fares cover about 30% of VRE expenses,

the remaining 70% is federal, state, and local subsidies

September 30, 2008 resource allocation report recommendations will be constrained, but will likely include federal and private funding

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Statewide Rail PlanSchedule

February 2008: began plan development

April 2008: presentation to CTB on US 29 Corridor

Summer 2008: present draft document to CTB

Summer 2008: publish statewide rail plan

September 30, 2008: resource allocation report

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passenger rail update - commonwealth transportation board (ctb)

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